1The LORD continued to respond to Job:
2Will the one who disputes with the Almighty correct him? God's instructor must answer him.
3Job responded to the LORD:
4Look, I'm of little worth. What can I answer you? I'll put my hand over my mouth.
5I have spoken once, I won't answer; twice, I won't do it again.
6The LORD answered Job from the whirlwind:
7Prepare yourself like a man; I will interrogate you, and you will respond to me.
8Would you question my justice, deem me guilty so you can be innocent?
9Or do you have an arm like God; can you thunder with a voice like him?
10Adorn yourself with splendor and majesty; clothe yourself with honor and esteem.
11Unleash your raging anger; look on all the proud and humble them.
12Look on all the proud and debase them; trample the wicked in their place.
13Hide them together in the dust; bind their faces in a hidden place.
14Then I, even I, will praise you, for your strong hand has delivered you.
15Look at Behemoth, whom I made along with you; he eats grass like cattle.
16Look, his strength is in his thighs, his power in stomach muscles.
17He stiffens his tail like a cedar; the tendons in his thighs are tightly woven.
18His bones are like bronze tubes, his limbs like iron bars.
19He is the first of God's acts; only his maker can come near him with a sword.
20Indeed, the hills bring him tribute, places where all the wild animals play.
21He lies under the lotuses, under the cover of reed and marsh.
22The lotuses screen him with shade; poplars of the stream surround him.
23If the river surges, he doesn't hurry; he is confident even though the Jordan gushes into his mouth.
24Can he be seized by his eyes? Can anyone pierce his nose by hooks?